The cost of electricity is fast becoming one of the largest monthly bills for most homeowners, and they are considering a conversion to an affordable alternative which might also make them a profit. Let’s take a quick look at some of the details involved in converting a home, or office, into a electrical plant of its own as we examine solar power vs grid power.
Due to the rotation of the earth, it is necessary to establish what is known as Solar North, to calculate the best placement of the panels used to convert sunlight into electricity. This is done with a few simple tools, including a protractor and compass, and simply monitors the angle of sun during the peak hours of the day.
Most installations have the panels mounted on the roof of the home, or building, and there might be some local codes, or insurance requirements involved. There should be enough room between the panels for EMT personnel to navigate while on the roof, attempting to fight a fire. There are also requirements for having an exterior shut off switch which is clearly labeled for emergency crews.
If the home is already wired for Grid power, the electrical lines from the solar unit are usually brought into the home at the same point. This makes it easier to install, maintain and troubleshoot. Batteries will take up some room, and should be easy to access when checking them for water levels. They should also be properly vented to allow gases to escape to the exterior of the home.
A dual switching system is installed to allow a choice of either Grid, or Solar operation. This switching mechanism is usually installed beside the Grid breaker panel, and all other sun supplied devices are connected to the new switch. The configuration can vary, but there are also automatic detection units to monitor the sun side electricity and switches back to the power company should there be a need.
Depending on the size of the installation, all of the household electrical needs can be achieved by collecting electricity from the photovoltaic panels. Some people decide to do partial installations where only the most expensive to operate devices are connected, such as central heat and air units, and clothes dryer and oven. Of those partial installations, most of them eventually become complete systems that provide all of the electricity needed for the home.
When people calculate how much money they are spending each month for electricity, then multiply that by 12 months, it becomes obvious that converting to photovoltaics is more affordable than sitting around bundled up in winter clothes, and still having to pay extremely high electric bills. These systems can quickly pay for themselves in 5 to 10 years.
The ability to sell power back to the electric company is another advantage to conversion to sunlight operation. By increasing the panels and batteries needed to sufficiently operate a home, the owner may decide it is worth the extra expense to install enough of them to make money each month from the people who used to be getting paid.
If you are looking to transition from grid sourced power to solar, have a look at our varied product line. You will find unmatched variety of affordably priced solar panels at the Solar Systems USA online store.
